Customer Reviews

Canon Speedlite 420EX Flash for Canon EOS SLR Cameras - Older Version

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An external flash is one of those things many people think only a "pro" has a need for -- like a tripod. Once you get one, though, you realize how essential it is and couldn't imagine going into the field without one.

I recently purchased this as part of my Digital Rebel package and am quite impressed with its features. The E-TTL -- the ability to adjust to the scene according to the camera's metering results -- is really amazing.

On the back of the unit is an LED display showing your approximate focal length (24 - 105mm), which also determines how powerful the flash will be. Additionally, there is a pilot button/light (for a test flash), exposure confirmation light, high-speed sync switch, "slave" setting buttons and the power switch.

After its flash flexibility, the 420EX's most impressive feature is its physical flexibility. You can move the flashhead within 90° vertically and horizontally, and it will lock at several angles. This enables the bounce-flash -- assuming you have a reflective surface nearby. Bounce-flash softens and distributes the light so you don't have overexposed, stiff looking subjects.

Speaking of which, I'd like to say that I bought a Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce diffuser when I bought the 420EX because it seemed like a good accessory. I have found that I generally don't need it because the 420EX is able to fine-tune itself to each shot.

I can't comment on its functionality as a slave because I have not used it in that capacity.

Ultimately, the 420EX is a great tool, whether you're shooting your kid's birthday party or a macro of a flower. It will allow you to take much better photos than you can with the built-in flash. And at its current price it is absolutely unbeatable.

I was thinking of using this higher power flash than the built-in flash (on my Canon Digital Rebel) because it seems that people keep telling me too. I never paid much attention to it because I rather spend my money on another lens or accessory.

Fortuneately, I ran out of things I thought I needed. In a nutshell, this flash is amazing and I wished I got it a long time ago.

Everything is automatic, and it takes out all of the guesswork for my amateur needs. When I tried the bounce flash (by adjusting the flash 75 degrees-up to bounce light off of the ceiling in a 10 ft high room), the pictures came out with more vibrant colors than I expected. In contrast, all of my past pictures became dimmer the instant I saw the new results.

Colors in objects that you don't pay attention to become visible and vibrant (the house plants in the corner, color of carpet, furniture, background painting and decor, etc). The bounce flash made my evening pictures as brillant as pictures taken in the afternoon.

In addition, since I bounced the flash from the ceiling, my pictures didn't have the dark and glooming shadows behind people. I have tried a side bounce to produce better results than a direct flash when I cannot bounce off of a ceiling.

I only wished that there were some emphasis and tips on using the bounce flash in the manuals. I guess it is a simple-enough method, but it produces amazing results. I was fortuneate to be reading a book about digital photograph (40 Digital Photography Techniques) that had 2-3 tips on trying a bounce flash.

I also purchased this flash for my loreo 3d lens attachment. Although it produces better and brighter picture than the buit-in flash, my picture with the loreo lens are still too dark. My best results are from pictures under the afternoon light. (I will continue to use software like photoshop to adjust the brightness and contrast in my loreo pictures when a flash is needed--which afterwards can become amazing.)

I bought this flash to go with my Elan 7E and it has worked great. It has all the features that most EOS users would ever need (vertical and horizontal bounce, fast sync, and E-TTL control). It isn't as good as the 550EX, but if you aren't planning on using mutliple flashes slaved together this is the better deal at almost half the cost (though the 420EX can be used as a wireless slave flash with the 550EX as the master). If you are shopping for an external flash for your EOS camera, you can't go wrong with this one.

Bought this flash about two weeks ago for use with my Canon Powershot G1 digital camera, and have been nothing but impressed with it. it mates beautifully to the Canon, although it does make it somewhat bulky. The bounce flash photography is beautiful, and the E-TTL system just makes you look like a total pro. I also look forward to using it for wireless flash photography.

There are SOME things missing, however. Compared to my Canon 430 EZ flash, there is no LCD display. No flash compensation (but this isn't a big deal, since that's controlled from my G1). No strobe. If these are important to you, step up to the 550 EX. Otherwise, the 420 is a beautiful workhorse.

If you have a Canon G1 or G2 digital camera, you've probably noticed the limitations of the built-in flash. It's way too close to the lens, which causes images to look flat and lifeless, and the color of the light tends to wash out colors as well.

The Canon Speedlite 420 is a pretty big device; it's basically the same size as the camera, and about the same weight w/ batteries. For that additional bulk, however, you get a powerful flash that can bounce light off walls and ceilings, creating much more professional-looking results. The improvement over the built-in is really like night and day.

This is the middle of Canon's E-TTL flashes. Looking at the lineup, the small 220EX is easy to transport and a good match for the Canon G series of digicam, but its not powerful enough for larger indoor situations (and it does not rotate to allow you to bounce the output). The 550EX is huge and offers lots of manual controls, but IMHO its better suited to professionals and super-enthusists who want to diddle with an additional set of controls. This model, the 420EX is just right to meet my needs.

Size wise the 420EX is right in the middle. It does not offer any manual controls, although it does support wireless operation. In terms of light output, it is very powerful. I have used it from well more than 100 feet away from my subject with very good results. And it supports bounce flash, which I prefer over straight on light output. I tend to use the 75 degree bounce, and I've also used a light diffuser to softer the light from time to time (check out the Stoffen diffuser that is a custom fit for the 420ex).

I get more than 200 flashes on a set of AA batteries (it uses 4), and the flash unit does a nice job of managing power by shutting down. The flash cycles pretty quickly, so I can frequently get off a quick series of 2 or 3 flash shots.

And the 420EX supports E-TTL, where the camera manages the level of flash output based on what the camera meters (as opposed to what the flash meters independent of the camera). As a result, I believe that it does not make sense to get this flash unless you are using a Canon camera that supports E-TTL (you are paying a real premium to get the E-TTL feature).

Overall, this is a fantastic flash, manageable in size and very powerful in terms of light output. Now smile!

I will not be telling too much about this device - it is so good it just works. I think this is how it is suppose to be with real good things.

I got this flash in addition to G3, which followed C2040 without hot shoe and I have been always happy with it. Photography is all about light and this device provides it very well.

The reason I picked this one is because this is cheapest in Canon line with swivel head so I could bounce light from ceiling and walls while shooting indoor. To get decent light outdoors on close distances use Omni-bounce (I use Sto-fen), scotch tape (with less effect) or white grocery bag (better and easily adjustable). Onmi-bounce greatly reduces working range so you don't want to use for large distances.

It has nice indicator whether flash provided enough light or not so you can correct you scene or remove bouncer. It is also good if you planning to extend you inventory in future - it can serve as slave for upper level models. Neat feature is the ability to zoom in and out automatically so you have larger range on tele. Little bit annoying absence of external power source or at least connector but handy man can solve that easily (loosing warranty unfortunately). Also Canon could make AF assist light to work with G-line.

Battery lasts quite long, with brand new set of AA I was able to get at least 300 shots indoors. Set of NiMH makes it charge faster and cheaper in long run but it is annoying to recharge them after 2-4 weeks of shelf life. Set of Lithium batteries is absolutely necessary when you are planning on shooting around freezing (don't forget to put lens cap on when you go back to building ;))

This is must if you want you photos to look different from huge crowd being printed by one hour services every day.

The greatest shortcoming of the Canon Digital Rebel Camera is its built in, pop-up flash. The pop-up flash produces inadequate light and greatly underexposes many situations - and often is not spaced high enough from the camera body to avoid red-eye, lens hood or telephoto lens body shadow. I purchased the 420EX to improve on these situations.

After a year of use - I LIKE my purchase of the 420EX.

Things I enjoy with my 420EX:

1. More powerful than the built in flash of the Digital Rebel
2. Swivel/Bounce head offers great flexability for many different situations.
3. Synchs perfectly to the Digital Rebel's exposure computer through the hot-shoe or hot shoe extender cord. Measures zoom level of standard zoom camera lens - and gives a good overall automatic exposure.
4. Light enough to mount on an L/U aluminum bracket without throwing the camera out of balance. Use of a BGE-1 battery grip is highly recommended with a portrait photographers U bracket.
5. Not a power hog. Can get up to 150-200 photos out of a set of four 2300 amp/hr Ni-Mh AA rechargables. (Always have a second set ready to go if on assignment - with a charger for the expended batteries.)
6. Works well in slave mode. This is where it earns its money for me!
7. Works well with a bounce light diffuser hood for portrait work.
8. Height above lens eliminates most red-eye situations.
9. GREAT VALUE for the money!
10. Hot shoe mount eliminates all but the longest telephoto lens shadows.

Things I 'd like to see improve:

1. Not powerful enough. You can NEVER have enough light. The 580EX gains almost two full F-stops over the 420EX - though you pay a price almost double in cost.
2. Battery door is flimsy - and sometimes fails to latch securely. (This is embarassing when you're shooting for a client and batteries are rolling all over the place - I know... I need to be more careful!!!)
3. Tends toward underexposure in large or high ceilinged rooms. (You can never have enough light!)
4. Lacks strobe, LCD display functions of the more expensive 580EX.

A good solid product for most occasions. A great value for the money. Improves on the Digital Rebel's anemic pop-up flash. Eliminates most red-eye situations. Still not powerful enough for the discriminating photographer.

I have used this product for over a year. I bought it because the on-camera flash on my EOS D30 was too small for certain situations. I have been very happy with the results in all conditions. The flash is very easy to use and does its job without the need for any great technical expertise. I decided against the 550EX because it seemed too complicated and I wanted a 'point and shoot' type product to use without any fuss. One bugbear - there is no battery indicator, so there is way of knowing how fresh your batteries are so you only realise that they are running down when your recycle time slows down.

It doesn't matter if you shoot film or digital. It doesn't matter if you have an old Rebel XS film SLR or even a PowerShot Pro1 digicam (Not even an slr)!, if your canon camera has a hotshoe, This will work on it. And not just "yeah, it works", it'll be a "HOLY COW, look at that shot!" Bounce Flash is so easy it made me want to cry. And I use a 1986 manual focus T90 side by side with an Elan 7n. All you do is point the the flash head at SOMETHING white, and shoot. You'll never go back to direct flash. Care for wireless flash? the 420EX is the PERFECT slave, and with a 550/580EX or a ST-E2, you can control the light output without even leaving your camera.
Stop using the built in flash. Treat yourself to something nice.